Maury Henry Biddle Paul
Maury Henry Biddle Paul was an American journalist who became famous as a society columnist for the New York American. Writing under the pseudonym "Cholly Knickerbocker", he coined the term "Café Society". The name "Cholly Knickerbocker" was owned by the Hearst Newspaper Syndicate, and Paul was the first, writing under the nom de plume from 1917 until his death in 1942.
Early years and career
Paul was born in Philadelphia to William Henry Paul and the former Eleanor Virginia Biddle, who were members of the Social Register. He was a member of the Sons of the Revolution and the Society of the War of 1812. He attended the Episcopal Academy and later graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1914, he began his career as a newspaperman at the Philadelphia Times. His apprenticeship was brief, and he was soon hired by the New York Press as society editor. In 1917, he moved to Hearst's New York American, where he took over the "Cholly Knickerbocker" gossip column that focused on members of high society.In addition to coining the phrase "Cafe Society" to describe the people who frequented tony night clubs and expensive restaurants, Maury Paul also invented the expression "The Old Guard" for the venerable New York families. Paul focused on the very well-born and extremely rich. In addition to his daily column, each week he wrote three features for the Sunday edition of the American. In 1937, the Evening Journal merged with the American to become the New York Journal-American.
Paul’s column and features were carried by the more than 60 newspapers of the Hearst syndicate.